Legal Studies

Major overview

Understand how law shapes justice with a major in legal studies

Are you interested in how law shapes society’s response to crime, protects individual rights and resolves disputes? The Legal Studies major in our Bachelor of Criminology explores how legal systems operate and examines the ways laws influence justice outcomes for both individuals and communities.

You’ll explore the foundations of the Australian legal system as you study how legislation, courts and legal institutions shape society. Throughout your legal studies and criminology course, you’ll examine issues such as human trafficking, cybercrime and systemic disadvantage while building a deeper appreciation of how law interacts with crime and social policy.

You’ll also develop practical communication and research skills used across the legal and justice sectors, learning to produce persuasive research reports, policy analysis and court-related documentation.

Our close connections with the Western Australian legal and forensic community bring real-world perspectives into your studies. Learn from respected criminologists and legal scholars whose expertise is regularly sought by the media to explain crime trends, policy debates and major cases.

You’ll be able to contribute to real homicide and missing persons investigations through our Major Crimes Review initiative, analysing case information and helping identify potential new investigative leads.

Our flexible Bachelor of Criminology allows you to tailor your degree by combining this legal studies major with other majors such as Crime Science – the only program of its kind in Australia – or Criminal Behaviour, developing the knowledge and capabilities needed for a wide range of criminology careers.

Criminology student presenting data visualisation to a seminar group

3 reasons to study legal studies at Murdoch University

Learn from leading criminologists and legal experts whose commentary frequently appears in the media analysing crime trends and justice issues.
Apply your criminology knowledge to real cases through our Major Crimes Review initiative, contributing to homicide and missing persons investigations.
Build professional networks through our established relationships with the Western Australian legal and forensic community.

What you’ll learn

Examine the structure, foundations and history of the Australian legal system.
Explore how law influences crime, justice and social policy.
Analyse how laws are applied and interpreted to address complex crime and justice issues.
Develop research, policy analysis and legal communication skills used across the justice sector.
Apply criminological research methods to evaluate law, justice and social policy.

I love the freedom to think and have opinions without criticism. The lecturers allow for discussion, understanding that everyone may have a different opinion, and allow for free-flowing conversation.

Ashlyn, Law & Criminology

Murdoch University law and criminology student in classroom

Law and criminology student presenting in front of digital map screen

Your future career in criminology

Turn your understanding of law and justice into practical impact across the criminal justice sector. Through this Legal Studies major, you’ll build the research, policy and analytical skills to pursue criminology careers across policing, corrections, government agencies, community organisations, courts and research institutions.

Potential roles include:

Criminologist
Community corrections officer
Youth justice officer
Paralegal officer
Court administrator
Policy or research officer

For more details about our Legal Studies major, download our information pack.

Start dates

Starting period	Location	Face to Face	Online	Mixed mode
Semester 1, 2026	Murdoch	Yes	Yes	No
Semester 2, 2026	Murdoch	Yes	Yes	No
Semester 1, 2027	Murdoch	Yes	Yes	No
Semester 2, 2027	Murdoch	Yes	Yes	No

View the dates for our teaching periods or find out more about attendance modes.

Starting period	Location	Face to Face	Online	Mixed mode
Semester 1, 2026	Murdoch	Yes	No	No
Semester 2, 2026	Murdoch	Yes	No	No
Semester 1, 2027	Murdoch	Yes	No	No
Semester 2, 2027	Murdoch	Yes	No	No

View the dates for our teaching periods or find out more about attendance modes.

Major Structure

Visit the Course Handbook - Get detailed information on units, prerequisites, and pathways.

To help plan the structure of your course, search for our suggested course plans.

Unit code	Unit name	Credit points

How to Apply

Majors are part of a degree and can't be applied on their own. Apply for a related degree first, then choose your major once enrolled.

Undergraduate Course

Bachelor of Criminology

Bachelor of Forensic Science

Study criminology and forensic science at Murdoch University and gain hands-on industry experience in crime science and forensic investigation. Apply now.

Code: B1431

Selection rank: 70

Undergraduate Course

Bachelor of Psychology

Bachelor of Criminology

Study psychology and criminology at Murdoch University. Gain an accredited psychology degree and explore crime, behaviour and justice systems. Apply now.

Code: B1416

Selection rank: 70

Undergraduate Course

Bachelor of Laws

Bachelor of Criminology

Study a law and criminology double degree and gain the skills to work across legal practice, law enforcement and justice-related fields. Apply today.

Code: B1346

Selection rank: 90